Olympus USA announces XZ-10 enthusiast compact

Olympus USA has announced the launch of the Stylus XZ-10 enthusiast compact, just three weeks after it was introduced to the rest of the world. A cheaper companion to the XZ-2, it's built around a 26-130mm equivalent F1.8-2.7 lens, coupled with a 12MP 1/2.3" type backlit CMOS sensor that offers ISOs up to 6400 and sensor-shift image stabilization. It can record 1080p Full HD movies with stereo sound, has a fixed 3" 920k dot touch-sensitive LCD, and offers a full set of manual controls including a customizable round-lens control ring. It'll be available from March 2013 at an estimated street price of $399.99.

The Olympus STYLUS XZ-10® iHS Proves Less is More With Lightweight High Performance

New Ultra-Portable, Ultra-Bright High-End Compact Puts Power in Your Pocket at an Affordable Price

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 19, 2013 – Olympus refines its X-Series with the extremely compact and lightweight Olympus STYLUS XZ-10, which incorporates many of the same high-performance features of the flagship STYLUS XZ-2 in a stealthier body. The new high-end compact is an ideal combination of optical brilliance and usability in a pocket-sized design that blends a super-bright f1.8 to 2.7 zoom lens, pro-style manual settings, ISO 6400, 12-Megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and powerful TruePic VI image processor.

Its flexible 26-130mm* wide-angle iZuiko® Digital 5x optical zoom lens with excellent brightness, even at its maximum zoom, fits into a body that is about 40 percent smaller by volume** than its predecessor. Olympus’s advanced iHS image processing technology, and a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor combine with the large-aperture lens to deliver high-sensitivity, low noise and blazing auto-focus performance that translates to excellent image quality from a compact camera. Even at high ISO settings, iHS technologies deliver low noise and radiant colors with crisp details and rich gradation in both dark and light parts of the frame.

XZ-10 upgrades include 120fps high-speed HD movie recording and Photo Story, which shoots a group of still photos straight into attractive, pre-prepared layouts that are ready for sharing via FlashAir™ without the need for more work on a computer. Modes like the popular Handheld Starlight Mode with Flash make blur-free shooting without a tripod possible even in difficult lighting, and HDR Backlight Adjustment for ideal exposure when shooting against the light.

Just like the STYLUS flagship XZ-2, the XZ-10 has a customizable control ring around the lens so users can adjust key settings such as aperture and exposure time manually without having to take their eye off the subject. Alternatively, users can assign ISO or metering to the Fn button on the back of the camera to ensure quick, easy handling on the go.

Basic operations and settings of the Olympus STYLUS XZ-10, starting with touch controls and Live Guide, as well as a graphic user interface, will be familiar to Olympus PEN® and OM-D™ shooters. Instantly activate the Touch AF Shutter function to select the subject you want to focus on and activate the shutter simply by touching (no swivel), 920,000 dot LCD screen. With a tap of the finger, it can focus on fast-moving subjects and trigger the shot.

In addition to superior still image quality, the 1080p Full HD Movie capability with stereo sound captures movies in the best quality currently available in compact cameras. Multi-Motion Movie IS image stabilization corrects for the common gradual camera shake that occurs when shooting on the move, delivering more stable, higher-quality movies. Beautiful movies can be shot even longer with a 1920 x 1080 High-Definition size and MOV/H.264 movie compression that has an excellent compatibility with computers.

Users can easily share their images on a big-screen HDTV in high definition using an optional HDMI cable or on their social networks using the Olympus Image Share smartphone application (via optional Toshiba FlashAir SDHC card or optional Eye-Fi Card).

* 35mm equivalent ** based on external dimensions

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Olympus STYLUS XZ-10 will be available in late March 2013, and ships with a USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack, Li-Ion Battery Charger, Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS ib® software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.

Olympus continually prices their P&S cameras too high, which is only one of the many reasons why they continue to remain at the bottom of the pack. If I had to choose between this camera and a Canon S-series or Panasonic LX-series - both of which cost less than the XZ-10- I'd choose either of those models first. If we compare it against the Canon SX260, Olympus' pricing seems even more ridiculous at nearly double the price of that camera.

Canon and Panasonic didn't set their current prices, the market did. The MSRP of the S100 was $430, sx260 was $350 the LX7 was $499. I'd suspect it won't take too long for the market to do the same to the XZ-10.

I can't understand why TTL (viewfinder) isn't offered on these somewhat inexpensive cameras. Trying to take a half way decent photo with a 3 inch screen in sunlight is near impossible. Why even go there....I'll keep my DSLR thank you!

The XZ-10 will do worse than the XZ-1 for DOF control, that is certain. It's also unlikely that the XZ-10 lens will be significantly better than the XZ-1 lens, one of the sharpest lenses of any compact. Size is a good reason to buy this compact, but at $400, there are any number of compacts like the LX7 or the slightly more expensive G15 or MX-1 that will provide significantly nicer images, and better DOF control.

By the way, because the SX50 has a better sensor than the XZ-1, doesn't mean the lens/sensor performance produce better images.

Rating the merit of compact camera sensors based on DoF control is like rating ballerinas by how much they can bench press.

That being said, I think this camera, even with period technology, would have fared much better 5 years ago. Now it's entering a market that is extremely competitive, and while it gives a decent balance of price, performance, size, and features/handling, it's the master of none.

Sure, it'll be right for some people, but most buyers have specific priorities. I thought, for nearly two years, I'd love a camera like this, but now that I'm seriously looking to purchase a smaller camera than my D300, my interest has gome mostly to a small m43 body, which offers less of a size advantage than an XZ-10, but is far more portable than my D300, and also provides just as many, if not more options, and, if you look hard enough, beats the XZ-10 on price.

In short, it's a delightful little thing...but it's the perfect camera for very few people these days.

That's exactly why I would prefer a bit larger than 1/2.3" sensor, as with these cameras, even the Q with an f1.9 lens, blurring the background gets more difficult, even up close. That's why most such cameras offer a fake Pro Focus Mode setting that blurs the background via software.

This camera look interesting, but all things being equal, I'll choose the larger sensor compact. Others will prioritize by size.

@hydrospanner

For you a second system camera is a viable option, for others who don't want to have multiple system cameras, i.e. a DSLR and a m43 camera. Others just want a quality compact with RAW and good manual controls like this camera, S110, LX7, X20, RX100 or any number of high end compacts. I'm not sure what 5 years has to do with it.

The 5 year comment was more about the market with respect to competition, not so much the consumer base. With the smartphone breathing down the neck of the low-end compact market, it seems most manufacturers have really made serious progress over the past 5 years in their top-end compacts. 5 years ago the LX3 entered a market with a far different landscape than the LX7 last year. Not necessarily that the people need/want anything different...it's just that there are far more options and players vying for that sale. 5 years ago, being a high-spec compact was enough...now you've gotta be the best at...something...

As far as my needs, I agree that there are different users who want different things, but I wouldn't say that m43 is definitely not suited to others either. I think a great many prospective high-end compact buyers might be served just as well, if not better, by something like an E-PM2, especially considering the price vs. a top-end compact.

Yes. A similar waste like the Nikon Coolpix P300 and P310 which also had fast lens at the wide end but only 1/2.3" Cmos or Bsi-cmos.At least the P310 wa a good improvement over the P300 with a new sensor, better jpeg engine and Nr Low as option which the P300 not had. But still, no raw. At least the XZ-10 offer raw.

Moreover, I don't understand how camera makers want us to buy their products while not providing some sincere (it's to say not painshopped) sample pictures. That's a free and basic service to grant to their customers... and themselves by the way.

Yes, the LX7 is a steal now. I believe the LX7 sensor is a larger 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm), not 1/2.0. And the lens is faster at the short end at f/1.4. I prefer Olympus colors to Panasonic but the LX7 is a great camera.

The list price of the LX7 is $499 but the market price has dropped over time, but only in the USA, it is currently £350 in the UK. The list price of the XZ-10 is $400. Why is it that people just never get that you cannot compare hot off the press new product prices with mature product prices. In the UK the XZ-10 starting list price matches the current LX7 price. There seems to a bit of a fire sale going on with the LX7 so whilst it is good for the US customer I wonder how healthy it is for Panasonic. Possibly they may be making money and the competition is well over priced. I must say I am looking forward to a price war between all these similar cameras but I suspect in Britain we will have to wait until they dump them for the the next model. The only affordable UK top end camera is the Samsung EX2f at £250 in established dealers which I may go for as the competition is just too expensive.

Combatmedic870 is right, LX7 "has" only 1/2,0" sensor. To be precise, it has almost 13MPx 1/1,7" sensor, but uses only 10MPx 1/2,0" part of it. Take a look at its crop factor (5.1). Typical crop factor for 1/1,7" sensor is 4.6.

LX7 doesn't fit in your pants pocket. Well at least my LX5 never did. I think it needs to come down about $100 before it gets interesting, though. I am sure the same market forces that drove the LX7 to have $200 discounts from MSRP will push the price of this down considerably from launch price.

The only reason to buy this over an LX7 or MX-1 is size. Less expensive and most likely better performing LX7 or slightly more expensive better performing MX-1, I can't imagine anyone choosing this camera for any other reason than size or fan loyalty.

True, LX7 is much better value at $300 than it is at $500. But comparing sensor sizes as it is everything is silly. Sensor size is important, but so is sensor efficiency.LX7 got DxOMark high ISO score of 147. 12 mpix 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor in Pentax Q (I bet it is the same Sony unit used by Olympus in this and many other cameras) got the score of 189. Canon SX50 with another 1/2.3" sensor got the score of 179. Here goes all your supposed sensor size advantage.

Lens advantage of LX7 though is real (if you don't need 91-130mm range that is). But it is also significantly bigger and heavier.

This does look like a very nice camera to me, nice to have the two external dialsThe LX7 is available for the great price of €223 (from the USA) at the moment http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCLX7B.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=rflaid63731